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Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff Writer
TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans said it’s been difficult being sidelined as Tampa Bay has dropped three straight games, including an overtime loss at Kansas City on Monday night.
Speaking for the first time publicly since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 7, Evans told ESPN it “would have been close” for him to return this week at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Evans is hopeful to return after the Week 11 bye, when the Bucs visit the New York Giants in Week 12. Sunday’s game against the 49ers will mark the third consecutive missed game for him — tied for the most he’s ever missed in a season in his 11-year career.
“It’s extremely tough,” Evans said. “Obviously everybody knows the competitor that I am and they know I want to be out there with my team and help us win ball games, but I can’t rush it and I’ll be back when I’m back and hopefully that’ll be after the bye week and I’ll be myself.”
Not only have the Bucs been feeling the weight of losing Evans, but also Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin. Godwin, who had been tied with Evans and three others for the most touchdowns in the league (5) through the first six weeks, was also leading the NFL with 50 total catches. He suffered a dislocated left ankle the night Evans went down, and has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
“My heart was with Chris that game,” Evans said. “He was having a phenomenal year. All-Pro season — one of our leaders goes down like that. That’s more what I was worried about because with a hamstring — I get those every year — so I was just worried about him really.”
Godwin, who underwent surgery two weeks ago, said last week that it would be a “best-case scenario” where “everything lines up” for him to possibly return for the playoffs. Both players are still playing active roles on the team, even if it’s while spending the bulk of their time in the training room. Godwin has been giving pointers to rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan, even creating a daily routine for him with the JUGS machines. Evans is trying to lead by example in the way he pursues his rehabilitation.
“I just give advice when I can, motivate when it’s needed,” Evans said. “But this team is super motivated. I mean, they just see me hitting my rehab hard and things like that. That does enough, and I want to be out there and helping them soon.”
Evans said he’s encouraged by what he’s seen from players like tight end Cade Otton, who has been quarterback Baker Mayfield‘s top target over the last two weeks, Ryan Miller, who caught the game-tying touchdown at Kansas City — his first-ever NFL touchdown catch — Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett (McMillan, a rookie third-round draft pick, has been sidelined by a hamstring injury).
“They’re doing an amazing job and I’m happy that they’re giving these opportunities, even though it’s unfortunate how things went down with me and Chris,” Evans said. “I’m happy that everybody’s getting opportunities to play because we have a fantastic roster and it’s starting to show when they get more opportunities, they make plays, so that’s good for them and I can’t wait to come help them win games.”
He said Mayfield has had a “fantastic year,” and “I can’t wait to get back to help him make more plays.” He said he’s feeling “great” and he’s optimistic about how the rehab is going.
Evans said devoting time to his foundation — which has now provided $560,000 in college scholarships to youth in Florida and Texas, and supports victims of domestic violence — is one of the ways he has been able to keep his spirits up. Evans was 9 when his father Mickey was shot and killed by his mother’s brother, Sam Kilgore, over the abuse of Evans’ mother, Heather. Kilgore is now serving life in prison for killing his cellmate.
“My story is documented — domestic violence issues in my family’s history — and I wanted to help families that are going through that. I know what it’s like,” Evans said. “It gives me more of a purpose to take advantage of these moments. You never know how long they last and you never know how long you are even going to be here on Earth. So I think it’s important to always give back and be who you are.”
“Just having that power just to just give back and help people out. I’ve been helped … I’ve had so many people throughout my whole life just help me and my family and without those people I wouldn’t be where I am today. So I have to pay it forward and it brings me joy.”
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